Post: #1

Dr Delroy Paulhus, the scientist who formulated the idea of the Dark Triad of personality traits in the 1990s, has added a fourth leg to the table - along with Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy there is now what he calls "everyday sadism".

Interesting interview with him at http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150130...udies-evil

Post: #2

Wonder how RVFers score on this

I'm pretty high on dark triad qualities, but as he describes it, I am probably low on sadism.

Post: #3

I think it's hard to judge your everyday sadism level just by crushing bugs. I would consider myself pretty low on that chart as I don't really care to watch any person or animal suffer. However, I will crush bugs without impunity. Little fuckers

Post: #4

(01-31-2015 08:23 AM)ChrisPitts Wrote:  I think it's hard to judge your everyday sadism level just by crushing bugs. I would consider myself pretty low on that chart as I don't really care to watch any person or animal suffer. However, I will crush bugs without impunity. Little fuckers

I will flame-throw my house to the ground if I find a spider, but other bugs I generally leave alone. Does that count?

Post: #5

Sadism was trendy 20 years ago, sort of how narcissism is today. That shit is retro now like the 90's.

Post: #6

If I remember correctly, heartiste talked about sadism being added to the dark triad about a year ago, the term dark tetrad was also used and he provided a link to an online test.

Post: #7

"Triad" sounds way cooler, though.

Perhaps because it subconsciously makes you think of a Chinese organized crime ring, although that is not the intended meaning...

Edit: Actually, I think it's a numerology/psychology related thing. Groups of three seem more significant than groups of four.

Post: #8

Interesting read, thanks for the link. I think most RVFers probably score quite high on the Dark Triad test but sadism? nah

Post: #9

Here's a thread from a couple of years ago with Dark Triad results of RVF members.

Some high numbers there. The original link to the test still works too.

Post: #10

I have a feeling that "Everyday Sadism" is actually unrelated from the Dark Triad. Some people who are Dark Triad will be "everyday sadists", whereas others won't. My basis for this thought is the fact I know a fair few people who you could definitely categorise as "everyday sadists". I would say many of those people lack the cunning and the narcissism (But not so much the Dark Triad trait of psychopathy) associated with the Dark Triad.

I may be completely wrong but over the last decade I've met several computer nerd types who are completely lacking in Dark Triad traits but are sadists and exercise that sadism through a keyboard and the Internet. Two of the most sadistic and unpleasant people I've ever come across, one being a child rapist and the other being a prolific abuser of animals both lack any sort of Machiavellian and narcissistic traits. Their sadism and unpleasantness are completely transparent.